Photo credit: Scott McDonald @ Hedrich Blessing 7RR-Ecohome: The design objective was to build a house for a couple recently married who both had kids from previous marriages. How to bridge two families together? The design looks forward in terms of how people live today. The home is an experiment in transparency and solid form; removing borders and edges from outside to inside the house, and to really depict “flowing and endless space”. The house floor plan is derived by pushing and pulling the house’s form to maximize the backyard and minimize the public front yard while welcoming the sun in key rooms by rotating the house 45-degrees to true north. The angular form of the house is a result of the family’s program, the zoning rules, the lot’s attributes, and the sun’s path. We wanted to construct a house that is smart and efficient in terms of construction and energy, both in terms of the building and the user. We could tell a story of how the house is built in terms of the constructability, structure and enclosure, with a nod to Japanese wood construction in the method in which the siding is installed and the exposed interior beams are placed in the double height space. We engineered the house to be smart which not only looks modern but acts modern; every aspect of user control is simplified to a digital touch button, whether lights, shades, blinds, HVAC, communication, audio, video, or security. We developed a planning module based on a 6-foot square room size and a 6-foot wide connector called an interstitial space for hallways, bathrooms, stairs and mechanical, which keeps the rooms pure and uncluttered. The house is 6,200 SF of livable space, plus garage and basement gallery for a total of 9,200 SF. A large formal foyer celebrates the entry and opens up to the living, dining, kitchen and family rooms all focused on the rear garden. The east side of the second floor is the Master wing and a center bridge connects it to the kid’s wing on the west. Second floor terraces and sunscreens provide views and shade in this suburban setting. The playful mathematical grid of the house in the x, y and z axis also extends into the layout of the trees and hard-scapes, all centered on a suburban one-acre lot. Many green attributes were designed into the home; Ipe wood sunscreens and window shades block out unwanted solar gain in summer, but allow winter sun in. Patio door and operable windows provide ample opportunity for natural ventilation throughout the open floor plan. Minimal windows on east and west sides to reduce heat loss in winter and unwanted gains in summer. Open floor plan and large window expanse reduces lighting demands and maximizes available daylight. Skylights provide natural light to the basement rooms. Durable, low-maintenance exterior materials include stone, ipe wood siding and decking, and concrete roof pavers. Design is based on a 2' planning grid to minimize construction waste. Basement foundation walls and slab are highly insulated. FSC-certified walnut wood flooring was used. Light colored concrete roof pavers to reduce cooling loads by as much as 15%. 2x6 framing allows for more insulation and energy savings. Super efficient windows have low-E argon gas filled units, and thermally insulated aluminum frames. Permeable brick and stone pavers reduce the site’s storm-water runoff. Countertops use recycled composite materials. Energy-Star rated furnaces and smart thermostats are located throughout the house to minimize duct runs and avoid energy loss. Energy-Star rated boiler that heats up both radiant floors and domestic hot water. Low-flow toilets and plumbing fixtures are used to conserve water usage. No VOC finish options and direct venting fireplaces maintain a high interior air quality. Smart home system controls lighting, HVAC, and shades to better manage energy use. Plumbing runs through interior walls reducing possibilities of heat loss and freezing problems. A large food pantry was placed next to kitchen to reduce trips to the grocery store. Home office reduces need for automobile transit and associated CO2 footprint. Plan allows for aging in place, with guest suite than can become the master suite, with no need to move as family members mature.

Snowberry / Symphoricarpos albus var. laevigatus Photo: Hansen's Northwest Native Plant Database, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Lead Plant / Amorpha canascens Photo: Joshua Mayer, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution- ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Mahonia aquifolium / Oregon grape Photo: Manuel, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-2.0 Generic. Modified from the original by Debbie Ballentine.

Style, elegance, design, class and exclusivity, are all the attributes that our most luxurious retractable awnings in the world contain. Our high-end custom made models are designed for a selected group of people who love to break free from tradition.

The Danish modern designer of this desk has been variously attributed to Arne Wahl Iversen and Kai Kristiansen, or more probably, Aksel Kdersgaard. Shelves are built into the back, so the desk can be used as a freestanding unit. It is made with solid Brazilian rosewood and rosewood veneers and was recently repaired and refinished by professionals, it is ready for any home or corporate office.

Renovation and addition of a 1940's Colonial into a family home that's modern, cool and classic. White interiors, dark floors, open plan, loads of natural light and easy access to outdoors makes this perfect for family and entertaining. Traditional meets modern. Award winning project . Judges say : "This renovation balances traditional attributes with modern clarity. Photo: Matthew Williams

Renovation and addition of a 1940's Colonial into a family home that's modern, cool and classic. White interiors, dark floors, open plan, loads of natural light and easy access to outdoors makes this perfect for family and entertaining. Traditional meets modern. Award winning project . Judges say : "This renovation balances traditional attributes with modern clarity. Photo: Matthew Williams

Photo: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 2.0 Generic

Large traditional blue three-story wood house exterior idea in New York with a gambrel roof and a shingle roof

Style, elegance, design, class and exclusivity, are all the attributes that our most luxurious retractable awnings in the world contain. Our high-end custom made models are designed for a selected group of people who love to break free from tradition.

Luxury, style, elegance, design, class and exclusivity, are all the attributes that our most luxurious retractable awnings in the world contain. Our high-end custom made models are designed for the selected group of people who love to break with the traditional.

Extior of the home Resembling a typical form with direct insets and contemporary attributes that allow for a balanced end goal.
Example of a small trendy black three-story vinyl and clapboard house exterior design with a metal roof and a white roof

Zenobia pulverulenta 'Raspberry' / 'Raspberry' zenobia Photo: Megan Hansen, via Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic

Style, elegance, design, class and exclusivity, are all the attributes that our most luxurious retractable awnings in the world contain. Our high-end custom made models are designed for a selected group of people who love to break free from tradition.

he custom sofa is upholstered in a Toyine Sellers fabric, the 19th-century Belgian cabinet was found at an auction in London, the bronze pendant light is by Hervé Van der Straeten and the Georgian fireplace is attributed to Robert Adam. The walls are coated in waxed plaster, the flooring is Indian sandstone, the silk rug is by Fort Street Studio and the painting over the mantel is by Ross Bleckner.

Renovation of older property of Boise. Build new landscape around existing older landscape, keeping the "Secret Garden" attributes of the existing property. Design and landscape project management by Greg Bauer and Ivy Design.

Finished gym and weight room.
Large mountain style medium tone wood floor home weight room photo with brown walls

Charles River Wine Cellars is responsible for some amazing multi-room wine cellars. Each space has its own unique attributes and theme. Boston Blend Round, Mosaic, and Square & Rectangular thin stone veneer provided by Stoneyard.com has been used in many of these projects. Visit www.stoneyard.com/crwc for more information, photos, and video.